Atom RSS

If Sam Zell has his way, and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority purchases Wrigley Field, it is conceivable that the Cubs could wind up sharing U.S. Cellular Field with the White Sox for at least part of a season while renovations to Wrigley were being made. That according to Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney.

The ISFA already operates U.S. Cellular Field, so any conflicts with the White Sox might be mitigated. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, could see two options, one where the changes are made over the course of several seasons, and the Cubs stay in Wrigley, or another where major changes are made as quickly as possible:

"Maybe we don't need to be out for a whole season," [Kenney] said. "Maybe construction would start [the] last day of the season, it would go through the off-season and maybe call it until June to get some major work done. Maybe you could phase it in over time."

Kenney has not approached Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf about the possibility of playing at The Cell. "To be honest, the architects really drive this, because they talk about lead time on ordering steel, etc., and how this would all work," Kenney said.

"There's a school of thought that (sports architectural firm) HOK has that you could actually phase it in and not lose a season at Wrigley. But then the question is, do you want to live through three years of construction? Or do you want to take the pain and maybe lose one season or a major portion of one season and just get it done?"

As to the proposed naming rights deal for Wrigley, Kenney said there are three corporations showing interest. As we reported (The Curse of Ex-Wrigley Field), even if Zell’s lofty $400 million, 20 year naming rights deal were to transpire, the corporation purchasing the secondary naming rights would be over paying in excess of 275 percent.

Wrigley Field, by any other name, will always be Wrigley Field. As to the idea of Cats and Dogs (Cubs and White Sox fans) living in harmony...